UN-CLOG THE MYSTERY: GRANT RESOURCES & Q&A ROUND 2!
On January 29, we encouraged members to come and chat about the changes to the CLOG calculation with the City's grant department, Neighborhood Services, and our EFCL team. As this is a new process for all of us, we wanted to hear your questions and ensure Leagues have all the information they need. Did you miss the session? The following resource is available for review:Thanks to the incredible level of engagement and insightful questions we received, the panel is reconvening for a follow-up session! Be sure to save the date: We are working diligently to prepare the 2027 Community League Reporting Guide. Final touches are currently being applied, and we will be sharing the document as soon as it is complete.
Questions? If you are unsure of your submission status or have specific questions regarding CLOG, please contact Michael Parker, Fund and Membership Administrator, at michael.parker@efcl.org. |
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GEAR UP FOR 2026-27: ORDER YOUR MEMBERSHIP SUPPLIES NOW
It's time to look ahead to the 2026-27 season! To ensure your League is fully equipped with inventory to welcome neighbours- from membership cards to skate ribbons and everything in-between, the EFCL supply ordering window is officially open. New Automatic Order PolicyTo ensure that no League is left without supplies, we have implemented an automatic ordering policy. If we do not receive a custom order from your League by the March 15 deadline, you will automatically be invoiced for and sent a standard package of 100 Membership Cards and 100 Skate Ribbons. To avoid unnecessary costs or receiving the wrong amount of inventory, you must place a custom order if this standard package does not fit your League's needs. If you do not want to receive any new supplies, please reach out to Candace Housman (candace.housman@efcl.org) and make that position known. Key Dates & DetailsOrder Deadline: March 15, 2026 Pickup Timeline: June 2026 Payment: Credit card (Stripe) or Invoice to League Delivery Options: Free pickup at the EFCL Office or Courier Delivery ($25.00)
A Note on Pricing: Due to current volatility in printing costs, prices listed in the store are accurate as of today but may be subject to change for late orders. We highly encourage ordering early to lock in current rates. Visit the EFCL Supplies Store here Thank you for your continued leadership and organization in our communities! |
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FROSTY AIR, WARM HEARTS: EFCL'S 105th BIRTHDAY BASH HEATS UP CITY HALL PLAZA
Edmontonians proved once again that we don’t just survive winter- we celebrate it! On January 23, the EFCL marked a massive milestone, our 105th Birthday, with an unforgettable party at City Hall Plaza.
As part of the City's 2026 "Ice Grooves" program, the plaza transformed into a vibrant hub of energy. A live DJ provided the soundtrack as skaters of all ages took to the ice, proving that few people know how to rock a rink like a Community Leaguer.
Despite the January chill, feelings of community spirit kept things toasty. Attendees gathered around roaring fire pits to enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and birthday cake, creating the perfect setting for neighbours to reconnect and celebrate the past, present, and future of our vibrant neighbourhoods.
At its heart, the evening was a celebration of the true power behind our movement: you. We were honored to shine a light on the estimated 7,000 volunteers whose passion and dedication keep our Leagues thriving every single day.
Happy 105th, EFCL! Here’s to many more years of community, connection, and joy. |
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GET YOUR COMMUNITY GROWING: PRE-ORDER YOUR SEED SHARING KIT!
While the ground may still be frozen, it's the perfect time to start dreaming of spring gardens. To help your League foster connections and greenery this upcoming season, the EFCL is thrilled to offer Seed Sharing Kits, available for pre-order now!
Whether you are looking to kickstart a brand-new seed swap event in your neighbourhood or you simply want to add a special touch to an existing gathering, these kits are designed to make the process easy and impactful. Hosting a seed share is a fantastic way to encourage local biodiversity, support food security, and bring neighbours together over a shared love of planting.
How to order: Secure yours today by pre-ordering your Seed Sharing Kit here. Pickups will be available starting at the end of February at the EFCL office, located within the Jerry Forbes Centre (12122 68 Street NW).
Once you have placed your order, please coordinate your specific pickup time by emailing greenleagues@efcl.org. Don’t wait- get your League ready for a vibrant growing season! |
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CUT COSTS & CATCH BILLING ERRORS: GET YOUR LEAGUE'S FREE ENERGY REPORT
Is your Community League paying more than necessary for utilities? As we enter the 5th year of the EFCL Green Leagues Energy Benchmarking Program, we invite all Community Leagues to take advantage of this free service designed to lower operational costs and reduce facility emissions.
This program goes beyond simple tracking. By participating, your League receives a comprehensive support package to help you understand exactly how your facility uses energy.
What you get:
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Detailed Reporting: A breakdown of natural gas and electricity costs and usage.
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Billing Analysis: We review your bills to ensure your League isn't being overcharged or paying for unneeded services- a vital check that can save you significant funds.
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Benchmarking: A visual comparison showing how your building stacks up against other Leagues (measured in energy use per square metre).
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Actionable Advice: Recommendations for retrofits or changes to reduce costs, plus support on how to implement them.
How to join: Participation is simple. Please submit all pages of your League’s utility bills (natural gas and electricity) from January 2025 to December 2025. You can upload them via our Google Form or simply email them to greenleagues@efcl.org.
Let us help you save money so you can put more resources back into your community programs! |
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Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Community Development Grants The Jumpstart Community Development Grants provide funding to organizations to deliver inclusive sport and recreation programs for children and youth from financially disadvantaged backgrounds and youth with disabilities. - Deadline: February 6, 2026
Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program
The Events Component of the Government of Canada’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program supports community-based public events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding and celebrate community history or culture. - Deadline: February 18, 2026
TELUS STORYHIVE Voices
Produce your own 6+ episode video series about anything- from kids' content to outdoor adventures and everything in between, the sky is the limit on your creativity! - Deadline: February 20, 2026
TD Park People GrantsTD Park People Grants are available for almost any community event in a publicly accessible green space- whether in a city park, social housing property, or schoolyard. From Indigenous plant medicine workshops to nature walks, TD helps local leaders organize events focused on environmental education, sustainability, or stewardship that bring people together. - Deadline: February 23, 2026
Enabling Accessibility Fund 2026This funding will find projects that create more opportunities for persons with disabilities to access and maintain employment. It will fund projects that remove accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities in Indigenous workplaces or Indigenous communities. From Canadian Heritage:
This funding is designed to provide eligible Canadian publishers of print magazines, print community newspapers and digital periodicals with the financial support they need to produce and distribute high-quality, Canadian editorial content for Canadian readers:
Magazine- Aid to publishers Digital Periodical- Aid to Publishers Community Newspaper- Aid to publishers |
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Do you have an event you want us to promote on our popular "WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND" social media posts and on our website? Let us know! Submit your community events here: |
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| | Melissa CampbellCommunity Activator
Q: What role can Community Leagues play when development is happening in their neighbourhood? |
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A: Recent policy proposals concerning the Zoning Bylaw and District Policy are bringing changes to our communities. Community Leagues are perfectly positioned to provide support, knowledge and opportunities for collaboration when change comes to neighbourhoods. Leagues have the power of an organization with structure, relevance, and collective voice. They also have strong, grassroots connections to their community members. Because of this, they serve a unique function in the middle space between government and the people.
Community Leagues have the unique capacity to serve the following functions:
1. Convene - Community Leagues have the ability to gather their community to discuss hyper-local topics and issues. This gives the opportunity for community members to share their ideas and thoughts and also provides a space for information to be shared with the community. If this sounds daunting, reach out for support from the EFCL. We can provide resources as well as support with designing gatherings that are productive and effective.
2. Collaborate - Community Leagues are an important partner in neighbourhood development. They have historic and current local knowledge that is invaluable for informing decisions about how communities develop and grow. When leagues work in collaboration with government, developers, and community organizations, this local knowledge is combined with the knowledge and expertise of other stakeholders.
3. Communicate - Community Leagues are an excellent point of contact for government, developers, and other organizations. They can serve as a centralized channel to share unbiased information with the community, using existing channels of communication (i.e., website, email lists, newsletters, and social media) to share information about development and other changes with the entire neighbourhood.
Because Community Leagues must remain strictly non-partisan, sharing content from a registered Third Party Advertiser (TPA) should be thoroughly considered before proceeding, to avoid any public perception that the League is endorsing a specific political agenda. Why this matters: - By definition, a TPA is an organization designed to influence public policy
- Perception of Endorsement: When a League shares content, posts, or proprietary resources from a TPA, it can reasonably be interpreted as an endorsement of that advertiser’s position
- Risk of Complaint: Hosting or platforming groups engaged in political advocacy puts the League at risk of having a formal complaint filed against it.
- Future Risk: By aligning with an external organization, you put your League at risk because you can not control what the organization does or says in the future.
Before engaging in community advocacy, we recommend that Leagues consult our Community Leagues' Role in Advocacy advice document.
Questions? Please contact Melissa Campbell, Community Activator, at melissa.campbell@efcl.org.
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Need to Know is the EFCL's newsletter just for Community League board members. If you've been forwarded this email and would like to sign up for essential updates and information for running your League, click here. If you haven't already, we also encourage you to sign up for Living Local, which focuses on stories from Leagues around the city. |
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We respectfully acknowledge the land upon which the EFCL operates is located on Treaty 6 Territory and has served a purpose as a traditional meeting ground for many First Nations groups. This territory has provided a traveling route and home to the Nakoda Sioux, and later, Blackfoot and Cree peoples, followed by Saulteaux and Métis and other Indigenous peoples. |
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Copyright © Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, All rights reserved.
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Made with love by the EFCL team |
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Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues.
12122 68 Street NW 68 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5B 1R1 Canada
(780) 437-2913
communications@efcl.org |
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